These easy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are a delicious hard shell chocolate candy filled with a delicious peanut butter filling. Move over Reese’s, and say hello to a delicious homemade version that costs a fraction of the price.
Line a mini-muffin pan with paper liners and a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract and beat together on low speed. Gradually increase the speed to medium-high and continue to beat for about one minute until completely smooth.
⅓ cup creamy peanut butter, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Then, add the chopped peanuts and gently stir them into the batter.
¼ cup peanuts
Scoop 1 teaspoon size portions of the peanut butter mixture and roll them into balls. Place them on the lined baking sheet and press them down a little to a ¼” thick round disc.
Add the chocolate bark and chocolate chips to a medium microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30-seconds, then stir and repeat for another 30 seconds. (repeat one more time if necessary) Remove from the microwave and stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Transfer the chocolate to a piping bag or a plastic baggie with the corner cut off.
8 ounces chocolate bark, 1 cup chocolate chips
Pipe about a ½ teaspoon dollop of the melted chocolate into the bottom of a muffin tin hole. Place a peanut butter disc on top of the chocolate. Then pipe enough additional chocolate to cover the peanut butter completely. Repeat with the each of the remaining peanut butter discs.
Place the filled muffin tin the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set.
Sprinkle with flakey sea salt if desired.
coarse sea salt if desired to garnish.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.Use a regular peanut butter and not an all-natural peanut butter, which is usually oilier.Use crunchy peanut butter for extra crunchLeave out the the chopped peanuts if you prefer a more classic Reese's peanut butter cup.